The National tribune., 1887-03-31
TRIBUTE TO LIBERTY.

Col. John A. ioyces Response 10 the 1ohst OF
American and Irish Aspiration 10 Liberty Mt the
Banquet OF the Society OF Saint Patrick, at the
Academy OF Music, Brooklyn, on the 18th inst.
Five years have gone to the catacombs of the
past since il was my unalloyed pleasure to ban
quet at your generous board, and gaze into the
sparkling eyes of my Irish relatives. Many
great events have happened since then, and
many brave and warm hearts that beat respon-
sive TO our own sleep their last sleep under the
historic shades of Greenwood.
The magnificent Beecher, with his Christ
like charity and God-like intellect, has " gone
over the range" lie was the Mount Rainier
of American manhood, and lowered above his
fellows like Chimborazo above the foothills
and plains that lie at its base. There is not a
man living to-day that can step into his pulpit
and fill even wrinkle in his shoes His heart
was as broad as the Continent his generosity
great as the globe, and his love for humanity
as boundleSs rs all the spheres.
The grand and glorious Tom Kinsella was a
loving disciple of the great preacher, and at the
altar of hope, love and beauty they flung the
sweet incense Of charity, and offered up their
prayer TO the God of Justice. Tonight these
giants Of thought hear and see US from the
spirit land, and mingle their souls with ours in
chanting the songs of liberty.
Liberty is the first born child of Nature Her
outstretched hands invite the world TO kneel
/ IL
in the love-light Of her beaming eyes. Across
the sounding centuries her voice rings in the
souls of the oppressed like magic music vibrat-
ing DER the tender chords of an Rolan harp.
i hear her sweet song from the temple of
Memnon as the god OF day rises 10 warm and
illuminate Oriental plains and mountains;
catch her charming notes at the Pass OF
Thermopyle; see her standing behind Leon
idas, Winkelried, Sarsfield, Emmett, Mont
gomery. Meagher and Abraham Lincoln, wav-
ing her flag in the face Oftyranny and slavery,
GROWING these grand martyrs to her cause with
a wreath of celestial glory. Though often
Scared, bruised and battered, she still stands
out
" Like some tall cliff that lifts its awful form.
Swells from the vale and midway leaves the storm
Though round its breast the rolling clouds are
spread
Eternal sunshine settles on its headI"
American liberty and Irish aspiration are
joint heirs in the battle for freedom. The
Blackwater and Bull Run were dyed with the
blood of Irish hearts; and while the Appomat-
tox of royal, laZzaroni tyrants has not yet ar
rived, the day is near at hand when the "epi-
! taph' Of Emmett shall be written in golden let
| tiers above the shamrock that blooms above his
sacred dust. Even now the bear, lion and
eagle are watching each other for the final
death-struggle of royal robbers; aud God bless
the hour when this trio of tyrants shall tear
| each Oiu6T 10 pieces anu DOWN forever 10 the
dark waters of Oblivion!
America is the home Of Freedom and from
the green banks Of the Lily and the Shannon,
and the wild heather hills of COnnaught, noble
souls assisted her in procaiming liberty TO the
whole world. The tones of the bell from indie.
| pendence Hall startled the cowardly hearts OF
aristocracy, and its lingering notes to day pull
safe in the palace of the tyrant.
I Ny exiled father of "'4S" found in this
1 oil lam ha fnlf &c
Of his youth. He fought and fell for the Union
and while he did not see the entire fruition Of
his hopes, tonight his son, basking in the light
Of Irish eyes, looks over the Union where Lib
erty is supreme, and not an inch of its sol
cursed by the footsteps Of slave.
Ny brothers and sisters in the mines of Sibe
ria, on the rugged hills of the Rhine, and in
the matched huts of old Erin, must and shall
be free. The Car, the Emperor and Kinl
must relinquish their scepters 10 the lovers anC
fighters for Home Rule. We will bOmbshel
them with reason as long as possible, and wher
that fails we will bombshell them with powder
and ironl
Revolution is right and justice is eternal
The rebel is still alive, aud even from tn,
smoldering ashes Of his hopes the phoenix o
liberty rises into the sunlight of God aud shad
ows with his broad wings the minions of sci
hshness and slavery. Rebel God bless tn,
rebel against wrong! A great bronze charaete
gnRrled by the knocks of centuries! There h,
stands like the volcanic coud-capped turret
Of Teneriffe lighting for liberty and human
rights, irradiating the thorny pathway of TIN
traveller and the stormy, weary watches Of tn,
mariner. His feet are planted in the rock
ribbed foundations Of earth, aud his bold, Draw
brow is circled by a diadem of unfading star
that shine in the upland mountains of omnipo
tence!
Let us never forget TO celebrate this gloriou
day, and while the followers of ST. Nicholas
ST. Andrew and St. George may boast of thei
patron saints, liberty-loying Irishmen in ever
land and cline, whether Protestant or Catholic
must ever kneel and worship at the CLASH
shrine Of st. Patrick. He lit up the dark day
of superstition and slavery, and by the gran
lever Of his genius on the fulcrum Of virtue h
shouldered the world ahead thousand wear
and left TO the Celtic race golden heritage
irrepressible truth.
Truth crushed TO earth will rise again,
. The eternal years Of God are hers;
But error, wounded, wTithes with pain
And dies among his worshipers.
Look back for hundred years TO yonde
shimmering strand where the brave Irish la
and the lovely, pure, rosy-cheeked, blueeye
Irish girl clasp, perhaps for the last time,
I father and mother they may never see again
aud while their exiled hearts are breaking
lean mine against theirs aud hear these poeti
numbers to
MY NATIVE LAND.
Farewell 10 the land Of my birth and my chilC
hood,
Where the shamrock and hawthorne bloom
the vale,
And the linnet and thrush sing sweet in the will,
wood.
Where perfume OF roses is borne on the gale.
Farewell 10 the hills and the streams where wa
: dered,
To my dear mountain cot Mt the edge Of the gle
Where often in Springtime i played and 1 poi
deTed,
But meier shall witness those loved scenes agai